Living the simple life in Princeton has offered us rewards that I would like to share with all who care to stop in and see. From natures outdoor beauty to indoor cooking and everything in between. Welcome to my very special world in rural Wisconsin.

Today I saw him/her in action again. It was so busy going in and out of the tree swallow house and removing nesting material. Fortunately the little baby Tree Swallows had just fledged a day earlier. I took photos of them just before they left the nest.

Baby Tree Swallow ready to fly.

Siblings fighting to see who goes first.

The wren began by taking out all of the downy nesting material. Tree Swallows line the nest with soft feathers just before they lay the eggs. We lost our bluebird nest this year. I am sure the House Wren was responsible for that. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows Finally Nesting

The wren was inside the house removing the feathers.

There is nothing we can do about these nasty little birds either. They are a native bird and protected. So whenever you see a birdhouse filled with sticks but no nest or eggs, that is the work of the House Wren. They fill up every house they can so no other birds can build a nest. When you hear their pretty little song in the future, maybe it will not sound so pretty anymore.

Friday, June 21, 2013

I got a rather disturbing email recently. It told why we should never buy products from China. I wasn't sure if it was totally accurate so I looked it up on Snopes.com. It said it was a mixture of true and false statements. Even if it is embellished a little, it's probably good to read the labels. I looked on the can of some products in my pantry and sure enough there it was, some products of China.

Some products in my pantry said Product of China.

Most of the food I checked said nothing or said Product of USA.

Here is the email, you can decide for yourself. As I mentioned earlier, I received this email and can't prove if any of it is fact or fiction. I just think it is something we should think about. I think whether food is produced in the U.S. or elsewhere, it needs to be held to high standards.

Imported food we eat and the junk we buy.Green Giant frozen vegetables are from China, and so are most of Europe's Best. Arctic Gardens are Okay. So is Birdseye.

Never buy the grocery store garlic unless it is clearly marked from USA or Canada, the other stuff is grown in people poop (even worse than chicken poop). China is the largest producer of garlic in the world. U.S. is next.

Buy only local honey, much honey is shipped in in huge containers from China and re-packed here.

Cold-FX is grown and packed in China and is full of fecal bacteria. Doesn't work anyway, big scam. If the country of origin is not clearly marked beware. If produce, ask an employee.Watch out for packages which state "prepared for", "packed by" or "imported by". I don't understand the lack of mandatory labeling, especially the produce. The country of origin should be clearly shown on the item in the store. I go to the local farmers' markets in season and keep a wary eye open the rest of the year.

Please read this very carefully, and read to the very bottom. It's important for all of us.

How is it possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in the U.S. or Canada?

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA'. SO, FOR A FEW MORE CENTS, BUY THE LIBERTY BRAND.

GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE IS FROM CALIFORNIA. Beware, Costco sells canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar that come from China.

ALL "HIGH LINER" AND MOST OTHER FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA OR INDONESIA. THE PACKAGE MAY SAY "PACIFIC SALMON" ON THE FRONT, BUT LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT WHERE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON WHAT IS FED TO THESE FISH.

Recently The Montreal Gazette had an article by the Canadian Government on how Chinese feed the fish: They suspend chicken wire crates over the fish ponds, and the fish feed on chicken s--t.

If you search the internet about what the Chinese feed their fish, you'll be alarmed; e.g., growth hormones, expired anti-biotic from humans. Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from these countries: Vietnam, China, Philippines.

Check this out personally. I did. Stienfeld's Pickles are made in India - just as bad!

Another example is in canned mushrooms. No-Name brand came from Indonesia. Also check those little fruit cups. They used to be made in Canada in the Niagara region until about 2 years ago. They are now packaged in China!

While the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products, dangerous toys, and goods to be sold in North American markets, the media wrings its hands! Yet, 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended! Well, duh! Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?

SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, CANADA AND THE U.S.!

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

THINK ABOUT THIS:

If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.

Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth it.

START NOW and don't stop.

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are intelligent, and NOBODY can take us for granted

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Back in the 1970's, I wanted something to store my potatoes and my onions in. I subscribed to Needlework magazine and saw this pattern.

I had a blue and white kitchen, so I made white bags with blue lettering. I used them for years and probably have them tucked away somewhere yet. I had pretty much forgotten about them. A few weeks ago my daughter called and asked if I remembered them. She was storing her onions in the mesh bag that they come in, but wanted me to crochet a bag. She wanted red and white because those were the colors she accessorizes with in her kitchen. I found the pattern and this is what I came up with. She didn't want it to say onions because some day she may store something else in it.

There are free patterns online for Market bags or Mesh Produce Bags and some from Etsy to purchase. I just added a stripe pattern in the middle to stabilize the bag. This bag was made with #10 Crochet Cotton and a #3 hook, but the larger the thread, the larger the bag. I may have to make myself a couple of new ones.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Every spring we see a pair or two of Hooded Merganser ducks. They usually stay for a few days or even weeks but always leave.

Male and Female Hooded Merganser's taken on March 29, 2013.

This year was different but I didn't realize it. Last week we got a glimpse of two ducks that looked like female Merganser's. I searched through the bird books to see if any other duck resembled them. They have a very distinct cinnamon colored crest. I couldn't find anything. During that same period we would see a mother duck leading her baby ducks to safety into the weeds whenever we would go out on our deck. I thought they were wood ducks because we see similar behavior from them every year. Then two days ago I got out the binoculars and looked more carefully. Right before my eyes camouflaged in the weeds, I saw the mama merganser and her babies. As I looked closer, I saw the nest with a few more babies in it.

Some of the baby ducks spilling out of the nest.

Mama on the nest with babies all around.

As soon as she heard me, she started her escape.

Here Mama and babies think they are hiding. I think there are at least 10 babies.

From a distance these looked like a Wood Duck family.

Later in the day I saw another group heading for the weeds. The two female Hooded Merganser's that we saw early last week, each had a brood of babies. The males are no where in sight. Maybe the Mallard I saw resting on the nest last evening thought he was the father because he was sitting on the exact same nest.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

I didn't know what recipe to post today. I hadn't made any new Facebook recipes this week to review. Then it dawned on me that last weekend my sister and brother in law were visiting. I made Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast and they were a disaster. I rushed them and didn't let them raise long enough. I forgot to put in the cinnamon so I sprinkled some on top before I baked them. We almost had Cinnamon Rolls without any cinnamon. I had to redeem myself and prove that I could make decent rolls. Of course, my dad will eat them no matter how they look. This is the recipe for the ones I made today. It is the same recipe I use to make white bread in the bread machine.

When the dough is ready, turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface.
Roll it into a rectangle about 10 x 14, brush it with butter, sprinkle with brown sugar
until it is well covered, sprinkle with nuts (chopped quite small) and top it with cinnamon.
I also put raisins on top for most of the family. My husband doesn't like the raisins.
When all these ingredients are in place, I take the rolling pin and lightly roll everything together.

Then roll up the rectangle from the long side. Don't roll too tight. Seal the seam and cut into 12 slices and place in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Cover with a towel and let rise until the rolls have doubled.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

While they are hot, mix a glaze of powdered sugar and a little milk and vanilla. Drizzle over the rolls.

Monday, June 17, 2013

As a kid, I didn't have any real talents. I don't have many now, but then I don't know what I did all day. We didn't have electronics and we didn't watch TV all day. I guess we played outside. Some kids can sing, dance, or are excellent in sports, but the only things I did well were the hula hoop and finding four leaf clovers. Oh yes, and I could do the mash potato to Dee Dee Sharp in the basement of my house. You younger people won't know what the mash potato is so you will have to google it. Or see it here on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQBKpV9emKc

They say as you grow old you revert back to your childhood. I think it has happened to me. I now do the hula hoop for exercise.

My daughter gave me a hula hoop for Christmas and I can still do it.

Then today I went outside to water my plants and this is what I found, two four leaf clovers. Former Mayor of Stoughton Wisconsin, Helen Johnson could find them too. She had hundreds under the glass on her office desk. I hadn't found so many in recent years, so I was happy finding these today. Finally I have entered my second childhood.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Today was Father's Day. It was a beautiful June day. It was especially nice because my sister and her husband were here to be with our dad. We are so lucky to still have him. He was so happy to have both of his daughters together.

I think my husband had a good day also. He got a new iphone for Father's Day. He was one of those guys who carried a Tracfone in a little case on his belt. He couldn't make the big plunge and only got the free iphone 4, but it is a big improvement over what he had. The guy at the phone store tried to hide his grin when we walked in, and when we left he said that he hoped Mike would enjoy leaving the dark ages.

Tracfone ready to be recycled.

The second thing that made his day was going out for Mexican food with our youngest daughter, her husband and one of our grandsons. I never in a million years thought he would ever eat Mexican food, but he really likes it. Our daughters always used to tease him by saying that ketchup was too spicy for him. Then he got his gift. Every year he gets the same thing. He gets a new Bathroom Reader. I hope they keep printing them because he really likes them and we all know where he reads them too. With all that Mexican Food he may start reading them sooner than later.